Beverage container

ABSTRACT

The disclosed beverage container can be a prepackaged hermetically sealed beverage container prefilled with a ready for consumption beverage for retail sale and can include three pieces, a cap, dome and vessel. The pieces can be screwable together. The dome piece can contain a strainer. The consumer can separate the dome from the vessel and add ice to the beverage to cool the beverage prior to consumption, and can strain the ice from the beverage before drinking it directly from the top opening of the dome, after it has been resealed to the vessel.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.14/357,863, which is the U.S. National Stage of InternationalApplication No. PCT/US2012/065561, filed Nov. 16, 2012, which designatesthe U.S., published in English, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S.application Ser. No. 13/341,795, filed on Dec. 30, 2011, which claimsthe benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/561,498, filed onNov. 18, 2011. The entire teachings of the above applications areincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

There are currently many devices and methods used for preparing andpackaging soft-drink beverages for distribution, sale, and consumption.Two of the most common devices include the “pop-top” can and the plasticor glass bottle with a removable, resealable twist-off cap. The pop-topcan is designed for immediate consumption, or transfer to anothervessel, as the standard pop-top cannot be resealed. Beverages containedwithin plastic or glass bottles with a removable, resealable twist-offcap can be consumed over longer periods of time, because the twist-offcap can be resealed to slow the contents from spoilage due to externalatmospheric exposure and/or other causes.

Presently, the soft-drink beverage containers that are distributed forsale and consumption are available in a number of different volumes.Typically, in the United States, pop-top cans are sold in 12 fluid ouncevolumes. In other parts of the world, pop-top cans are usually sold in355 milliliter volumes, which is roughly the metric equivalent of thevolume of the U.S. pop-top can. New sizes and shapes of the pop-top canhave recently come to market. Plastic bottles with a removableresealable twist-off cap are generally offered in a wide variety ofsizes, which include 20 fluid ounces, one-liter, and two-liter volumes.This is due, at least in part, to the resealable nature of the twist-offcap. Glass bottles come in a variety of sizes from single serve juicebottles to family size, both with resealable caps.

Consumers prefer many soft-drinks to be cooled prior to consuming them.In fact, many consumers will not drink some soft-drinks unless they arecooled because they do not like the taste of the warm beverage.Generally, in order to cool a soft-drink, as sold in one of thecurrently available beverage containers on the market, it must be placedinto a cool or cold environment, such as a refrigerator or freezer,packed in ice, or a combination of ice and water, for a period of time,or the soft drink must be poured into a second container and mixed withice or some other cooling agent.

SUMMARY

A mixed drink is a beverage in which two or more ingredients are mixed,and often includes alcohol. It is typical to cool a mixed drink bypouring and serving it over ice. However, in some cases the use of ashaker is preferred, which allows the beverage to mix with ice, coolingit, before it is strained into a glass to be served. Although thecontainer described here might be used in a similar fashion, it isprimarily intended to be used in the bottling of pre-mixed soft-drinksfor sale. The soft-drink need not be mixed with alcohol.

A beverage container, either a soft-drink or mixed drink beveragecontainer, and corresponding method of preparing, bottling, packagingfor distribution, sale, and consumption, according to an exampleembodiment of the present invention, includes a cap, dome, and vessel.The beverage container is configured in an arrangement in which eachpiece is removable and resealable. The vessel, which in an exampleembodiment can contain a premixed soft-drink beverage ready forconsumption, can be screwed to the dome, creating a resealable closure.Along the top of the vessel, at the open end, there can be threading.The dome has a top opening and a bottom opening. The bottom opening ofthe dome can be configured with threads to enable the screwing of thedome to the vessel. The dome can also contain a fixed strainer, throughwhich strained liquid, such as a premixed soft-drink beverage, can pass,situated near the upper inside portion of the dome. Along the topopening of the dome, a lip wall (neck), having a generally cylindricalshape, can rise up out of the dome. A cap can be screwed onto the top ofthe dome to create a resealable closure. The exterior of the lip wall(neck) can be configured with threads for screwing the cap and dometogether, the direction of which may or may not be the reverse of thatfor screwing the dome and vessel together. With reverse threads,loosening the cap does not apply force to loosen the dome.Alternatively, a locking mechanism, such as a raised nub on the exteriorwall near the threading of the vessel, can be used to help preventloosening of the dome and potential spills by necessitating that extrapressure be applied to loosen the screwed junction of the dome andvessel.

According to another example embodiment, the cap can have a ridged orother slip-proof grip to facilitate fastening and unfastening to thedome. The dome can also be configured with a ridged or other slip-proofgrip to facilitate fastening and unfastening to the cap and/or thevessel.

The soft-drink beverage container can be made out of recyclablematerials such as aluminum, plastic, glass, and/or stainless steel, or acombination thereof.

According to a further example embodiment of the present invention, thecap, when arranged securely to the dome, can be configured with ananti-tamper safety seal which indicates if the packaging has beentampered with post production. Similarly, the sealed dome and vesseljunction can be fixed with an anti-tamper indicating safety seal.

According to a further example embodiment, an anti-tamper indicatingsafety seal, or shrink wrap, can be located substantially along theentire length (or less) of the outside of the container, havingperforations located near the junction of the cap and dome and near thejunction of the dome and vessel to facilitate removal of the seal by theconsumer.

According to a yet further example embodiment of the present invention,the volumetric capacity of the vessel can exceed the volume of thepackaged pre-mixed beverage by 10 to 25 percent.

The soft-drink beverage container, in a yet further example embodiment,can be made using double-walled construction for insulating the contentsfrom the outside environment.

According to an example embodiment of the current disclosure, in amethod of preparing and bottling a beverage, a pre-mixed beverage can bedeposited into the vessel prior to screwing the cap onto the sealed domeand the dome on the vessel. According to an alternative example embodiedmethod, a pre-mixed beverage can be deposited into the vessel prior toscrewing the dome onto the vessel. The convenience to the consumercoupled with the design elements allowing for bottling at a fillingplant are unique.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing will be apparent from the following more particulardescription of example embodiments of the invention, as illustrated inthe accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer tothe same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are notnecessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustratingembodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 1A is a profile view of an example embodiment of the beveragecontainer including the cap, dome, and vessel arranged in a sealedconfiguration with conventional threading.

FIG. 1B is a profile view of the vessel of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2A is a profile view of an example embodiment of the beveragecontainer including the cap, dome, and vessel arranged in a sealedconfiguration with a smaller diameter cap and reverse threading at thevessel.

FIG. 2B is a profile view of the vessel of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 3A is a profile view of the dome of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 3B is a perspective view of the dome looking upwards from below.

FIG. 3C is a perspective view of the dome looking downward from above.

FIG. 3D is a top-side view of the dome.

FIG. 4A is a profile view of the cap of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 4B is a perspective view of the cap looking upwards from below.

FIG. 4C is a top-side view of the cap.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional profile view of a beverage containerincluding the cap, dome, and vessel illustrating double-walledconstruction.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A description of example embodiments of the invention follows.

The current disclosure pertains in general to containers for liquid and,more particularly, to containers for non-carbonated, soft-drinkbeverages to be consumed.

The vast majority of currently available soft-drink beverage containersare treated as a single-use device by consumers, and discarded after thecontents have been emptied. Further, most soft-drink beverages soldtoday are made out of recyclable materials, which are typicallyaluminum, plastic, or glass. In general, the volume of the soft-drinkthat is distributed within the beverage container matches the maximumpractical volumetric capacity of that container. In a case where aconsumer wants to cool a soft-drink prior to drinking it, often it ispoured into a second container to be mixed with ice or some othercooling agent. If a consumer wants to drink a cooled beverage, but doesnot want to drink the beverage with ice in it, in order to achieve sucha result traditionally, one would typically use a strainer and multiplecontainers. One form of strainer is in a capped dome of a shakerassembly. The problem with using several instruments to perform the taskof cooling the beverage with ice, and then straining the beverage priorto consumption, is that this typically causes a mess, soiling theseveral containers and instruments with the residue of the drink, andthere is a high chance of some spillage. Further, the strainer istypically not handy when away from home or a bar.

The container disclosed here enables an opportunity to pre-fill thecontainer with a variety of non-carbonated beverages on standardized orcustomized beverage filling machinery, to market those beverages todrinkers and non-drinkers alike, and provides the added convenience andutility to the consumer of cooling a pre-mixed soft-drink at the pointof sale or at any future point in time.

There is a large group of people that cannot or choose not to drinkalcohol. Often, members of this group feel separated when they are inthe presence of others that are drinking alcohol. Individuals thatcannot or choose not to drink alcohol may find an example embodiment ofthe present invention is particularly useful at a social gathering inwhich the individual wishes to enjoy drinking a cocktail, but withoutalcohol. Alternative healthy life-styles are becoming increasinglypopular. For a variety of reasons, including healthy lifestyle choice,pregnant or nursing mothers, medication conflicts, religious believes,or treatment such as Alcoholics Anonymous, a consumer may choose not todrink alcoholic beverages at all, or in certain limited cases, such asbeing a designated driver. While such a choice is becoming more sociallyacceptable, the consumer may not want to draw attention to his or herdecision at a social gathering.

An example embodiment of the present disclosure can help conceal theconsumer's decision not to imbibe alcohol by enabling cooling asoft-drink and serving it in a traditional bar glass to allow anon-drinker to fit into traditional social settings where alcohol isserved. An example embodiment of the present disclosure, by providing aunique beverage container, enables a ritualistic cooling process for itscontents, which is similar to the process long associated with classiccocktail culture. The soft-drink beverage container enables the consumerto enjoy, fit in and find comfort in, the ritualistic traditions andcamaraderie associated with drinking alcohol, but without drinking anyintoxicating substance, and avoiding the potentially awkward socialramifications.

According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a reusable,recyclable soft-drink bottle can be comprised of three pieces in thebasic shape of a martini shaker: a vessel to hold a premixed beverage; aresealable dome which may be unscrewed from the vessel; and, aresealable cap which may be unscrewed from the dome. The soft-drinkshaker bottle design allows the consumer to drink a premixed beveragestraight from the bottle, as he or she does today from conventionalbottles or cans. However, an example embodiment of the present inventionalso gives the consumer the option to remove the dome and add ice,perhaps immediately at the store where the soft-drink is purchased, andthen replace and reseal the dome onto the vessel holding the pre-mixedbeverage and ice. The consumer will, with or without ice, open theresealable screw cap to drink the beverage. The dome is resealable toallow the ice to be added and then replaced prior to drinking directlyfrom the bottle or pouring the contents into a glass or cup. The cap isresealable to allow for hand-held use on the go, or in an automobile cupholder, and for consumption after refrigeration when contents remain.

An example embodiment of the soft-drink shaker bottle has three pieceswith two resealable screw on/off features attaching each part to theother. The dome can unscrew from the vessel in a clockwise orcounter-clockwise motion. The cap can unscrew from the dome in a similaror reverse clockwise or counter-clockwise motion. This double screwmechanism allows the consumer to unscrew the dome from the vessel, forthe purpose of adding ice, and for unscrewing the cap from the dome forthe purpose of consuming the beverage directly, or pouring the beverage.The feature of both sets of threads screwing in the same direction bestenables the beverage bottler to run the container on standard beveragefilling machinery. The two resealable screw features can includetamper-indicating features and a locking mechanism to prevent accidentalspills.

The threads may be in reverse-direction relative to one another. Forexample, the dome can unscrew from the vessel in a clockwise orcounter-clockwise motion, while the cap can unscrew from the dome in areverse counter-clockwise or clockwise motion. It should be clear tothose skilled in the art that, for this example embodiment, thedirection of the particular threading is not of importance, only thatthe two threading may be in opposite directions relative to one another.This double reverse screw mechanism allows the consumer to loosen onlythe cap, while tightening the dome on the vessel, and thus ensuring thatthe dome does not inadvertently loosen. This feature is useful toprevent accidental spilling of the beverage.

Embodiments of the beverage container can be made from any material, orcombination of materials, suitable for distribution and retail sale, andmay include, for example, aluminum, plastic, glass, and/or stainlesssteel. It should be understood by those of skill in the art that variouselements of the beverage container, including the cap, dome, and vessel,may each be individually composed out of the same material or differentmaterials. For example, the cap may be plastic, while the dome isaluminum, and the vessel is glass, or the cap may be plastic, while thedome is stainless steel, and the vessel is stainless steel, or any suchsimilar combination. In one embodiment, the vessel is glass and the domeand cap are plastic.

The choice of beverage container material can be influenced by manyfactors, including, but not limited to, the following examples:ingredients of the beverage and whether or not they include alcohol;whether a hot fill or cold fill process is optimal; sensitivity of eachindividual type of beverage to light and oxygen; potential shelf lifeissues related to fresh ingredients, preservatives, or additives; volumeof fluid contained; cost of raw materials; cost of manufacturing thebottle in each material, or a combination of materials; availability ofco-packing facilities; filling line machinery availability, and itsrequirements regarding lip wall or neck sizes and depths as well asoverall beverage container height, width, and pressure handlingrequirements; distance and cost of transporting bottles made ofdiffering materials to a co-packing facility; possible breakage ordenting factors; recycling rates and ever more eco-friendly materialsthat consumers demand. As technology, filling machinery, beveragedevelopment, ingredients, materials, industry trends, and consumertastes change, the dimensions of the beverage container, and thematerial chosen to produce it may change to accommodate these marketpressures and seize new opportunities.

An example embodiment of the vessel can be designed to hold, forexample, an 18 to 20 ounce volume, but sold containing a lesser amountof a pre-mixed beverage, for example, 16 ounces, to enable the consumerto add ice without spillage. The vessel can have threading on an outsidetop ridge for attaching the dome. The dome has inside threads forattaching to the vessel.

According to an example embodiment, a lip wall (or neck), is designed tobe a proper receptacle transition for bottling the beverage in thecontainer using standard beverage bottling machinery. The dimensions ofthe lip wall, or neck, may be influenced by multiple factors includingthe volume of the beverage container and the materials used for itsconstruction, such as aluminum, plastic, glass, stainless steel, or anyother suitable material, or some combination thereof. The neck may comein different widths and depths depending material choice and size ofcontainer. In a preferred example embodiment, a lip wall (or neck),preferably between about one half inch to one inch in height, anddesigned to allow the consumer to drink straight from the bottle withoutthe need for a straw or glass/cup, rises above the strainer. The lipwall or neck is preferably in the range in diameter from a half inch tothree inches, with a range of one to two inches being most preferred. Itshould be understood by those of skill in the art that the dimensions ofthe lip wall or neck, and, more generally, those of the container, canvary depending on several factors, including the materials used, thebeverage filling machinery used, and overall volumetric capacity ofcontainer.

The lip wall serves to gather the beverage as it flows through thestrainer, with or without ice. As the consumer tips the bottle towardthe mouth, the beverage gathers and he or she may drink from thecontainer in the same manner as from any traditional soft-drink bottleor can. If no lip wall is present above the strainer line, and thestrainer is exposed, it becomes exceedingly difficult to drink straightfrom the bottle without the consumer spilling the beverage on his or herface and/or clothes. Without the lip wall, a consumer would be requiredto use a straw to sip the contents to remain spill-proof, or,alternatively, the consumer would be required to pour the contents intoa glass/cup. An example embodiment of the disclosed beverage containerdoes not require a straw, and is simple to drink straight from thebottle, with or without ice. It is also useful as a container to drinkdirectly from because it is more spill-proof than conventionalsoft-drink bottles, as the strainer adds a measure of spill-proofingabove and beyond that of conventional soft-drink bottles. The outside ofthe lip wall has threads for securely screwing the resealable cap intoplace. The cap has inside threads for securely attaching it to thedome's lip wall (neck).

Once filled with a ready for consumption beverage inside, the junctionsof the cap and dome can be sealed for distribution and retail sale.Sealing for retail sale must include a fluid-tight seal and preferablyalso includes a mechanism to indicate tampering. Such functions may belinked and performed by a single mechanism, as is the done with apop-top, or may be distinct and performed by separate mechanisms. Forexample, safety sealing for retail sale may include utilizingheat-applied foil seals applied across container openings (e.g., acrossthe mouth of the vessel and/or across the lip wall (neck) of the dome)for securing against leakage and utilizing tamper-evident seals such asfrangible shrink-wrapped film seal(s), ribbed container elements (e.g.,the cap and/or dome) with tamper evident rings, or flat-topped vacuumsealed metal closures that become convex upon release of the vacuum.

The dome, cap, vessel, or any combination thereof, can have slip-proofgrips to enable the consumer to grip each piece securely whileunscrewing or re-screwing the bottle pieces back together. For example,the slip-proof grip can be comprised of a ridged or grooved surface ofthe container, and/or an additional material having suitable physicalcharacteristics, which may include a higher elasticity and/or highercoefficient of friction than the respective characteristic of thecontainer material.

It can become a challenge to use a conventional shaker because the partsbecome stuck together. Whether it is because of temperature and/orpressure reasons, or sticky residue from the beverage contents, thepieces become stuck together and the user's hands often slip whiletrying to loosen the assembly. In some cases, the user must strike theassembly, with the contents inside, against a hard surface, hoping tojar the parts loose. In other cases, the user must run the stuck partsunder hot water, or through a dishwasher, in the hopes that the hotwater will dissolve the sticky contents, and the pieces become free ofeach other. The double tamper-indicating screw threading, in combinationwith slip-proof groves for gripping, make the disclosed exampleembodiment more secure for the consumer drinking the premixed contents,and more convenient for opening and closing, and for re-use of thecontainer.

The soft-drink shaker bottle allows the consumer to drink straight fromthe bottle, with or without ice, as previously described, as a singleserving size container. The consumer also has the option to pour thecontents into a cocktail or martini glass, or any other container, whenthe contents are ideal for such an application, such as a non-alcoholiccocktail. An advantage of an example embodiment of the soft-drink bottleis that it can be used as a single serving size container, or it canprovide two or more smaller serving sizes, depending on the consumer'suse. When the consumer uses the pre-mixed contents as a non-alcoholiccocktail, they will likely unscrew the dome and add ice. The consumerwill then screw the dome back into place, shake the contents, andunscrew the cap, allowing the contents to be poured into traditional barglasses to share with friends. In this situation, the single servingsize bottle offers two or more smaller servings. In other words, if thecooled pre-mixed beverage contents of the single serving size bottle,which may contain, for example 16 to 18 ounces, are served in a barglass, for example a martini glass, which typical holds only four to sixounces (4-6 oz.), then three or more four to six ounce servings can beoffered. (A total of three six ounce (6 oz.) martini-sized smallerservings can be provided from the example 18 oz. contents, or four fourounce (4 oz.) smaller servings can be provided from the example 16 oz.contents when chilled with ice.) It should be recognized by those ofskill in the art that example embodiments can also be made into largeror smaller sizes, such as a larger half gallon size, for partyapplications or a smaller scaled down 12 ounce size for individualconsumption, typically served to a consumer in a bar or restaurant. Thelarger sized example embodiments can also include a tamper-proofresealable dome and cap that can screw off the larger vessel formultiple pours.

In a preferred embodiment of the container, the practical volumetriccapacity of the vessel exceeds the soft-drink beverage sold within it bya range of 10 to 25 percent. The excess practical volumetric capacity ofthe vessel allows ice, or some other ingredient, to be added to thepre-mixed beverage without causing the contents to overflow and spill.

The single/multiple serving size example embodiment can be soldindividually as well as packaged into multi-packs of different flavors,for a multi-flavored party-pack concept. While the larger size exampleembodiment is more useful for a party setting in which a single flavoris preferred.

An example alternative embodiment of the beverage container can be madewith a double-walled construction for insulation, similar to theconstruction of a travel mug for hot beverages. The beverage containercan hold ice, and if it does, it may tend to sweat in warmerenvironments. Double-walled construction is useful in that it willprevent condensation from accumulating on the outside of the container,preventing such sweating, which causes inconvenience to the consumer.Such upscale construction can be a true multi-use to go bottle for allthe user's cold or iced drinks.

In a method of preparing a soft-drink beverage and a correspondingcontainer packaging for distribution, sale, and consumption, whichincludes a cap, dome, and vessel, a pre-mixed beverage can be depositedinto the vessel prior to screwing the cap onto the previously screwedtogether and sealed dome and vessel. According to an alternative method,a pre-mixed beverage can be deposited into the vessel prior to screwingthe dome onto the vessel, with or without the cap previously screwed andsealed to the dome. Further, it should be understood by those of skillin the art that the soft-drink beverage ingredients can be depositedinto the vessel as a pre-mixed beverage, or the ingredients of thebeverage deposited individually into the vessel prior to mixing, or somecombination thereof.

FIG. 1A is a profile view of an embodiment of the present invention. Thebeverage container 100 can be made up of three parts, a cap 105, a dome115 and a vessel 125. The beverage container is in the basic shape of acocktail shaker. Vessel 125 is used to hold the pre-mixed beverage. Thedome 115 is screwed onto the vessel 125. The cap 105 is screwed onto thetop of the dome 115. After removing the cap 105 a consumer can drink thebeverage directly from the container 100 in a manner similar totraditional beverage containers such as standard soda bottles.

The consumer, after purchasing the beverage in the container 100, canremove the dome 115, unscrewing it from the vessel 125, to place icewithin the vessel 125 to cool the beverage contained within. Theconsumer can then reattach the dome 115, resealing it to the vessel 125,then shake to cool and strain the cooled beverage contents of the vessel125 through the dome 115 out of its top after removing the cap 105. Whenthe beverage container 100 is distributed it can contain atamper-indicating safety seal 112 between the dome 115 and the cap 105indicating whether post-production tampering has occurred, compromisingthe seal between the cap 105 and the dome 115. The beverage container100 can contain an additional tamper-indicating safety seal 122 betweenthe dome 115 and the vessel 125. Similarly, safety seal 122 wouldindicate whether tampering has occurred post-production between the dome115 and the vessel 125 of the beverage container 100. The safety seals112 and 122 help to maintain the integrity of the mixed beverage beingdistributed from the producer.

Those of skill in the art will realize that the tamper-indicatedfunctionality of safety seals 112 and 122 can be alternativelyaccomplished by using a unitary mechanism, such as a shrink-wrap film(or shrink sleeve), extending over substantially the entire length ofthe container or less, with perforations located at the approximatelocations indicated by seals 112 and 122. Such seal types can be easilytorn-away by consumers.

Those of skill in the art will further recognize that the leakageprevention functionality required for retail sale may be accomplished byusing hermetic seals, such as a heat-applied foil seal across theopening, to seal the interior chambers of the container. Hermetic sealscan be located approximately at seal 112 and most preferably at seal122. Such seals may be in addition to, or in lieu of, other seals, andwill help ensure the freshness of the contents of the container byfurther reducing the exposure to the outside environment.

In an embodiment of the container having a glass vessel 125, aring-shaped foam seal, located approximately just above the threading135 can be used. Such a foam seal in combination with a glass vessel canbe used by the consumer to tightly reseal the vessel 125 to the dome 115and prevent accidental leakage.

In an embodiment of the container having a plastic vessel 125 made froma plastisol-type material, a foil hermetic seal can be applied acrossthe top of the vessel after it has been filled with its contents using aheating process to melt the foil to the vessel 125.

In an example embodiment of the disclosed beverage container 100, thepieces can be screwed together using the same direction of rotation forboth sets of pieces. For example, cap 105 will screw onto the dome 115with clockwise rotation using clockwise screw threads. The dome 115 willscrew onto the vessel 125 also with clockwise rotation using clockwisescrew threads. It should be clear to those skilled in the art that thedirection of the particular threading is not of importance, only thatthe two threading be in the same direction relative to one another. Thethreaded features 135 (310 and 320 of FIG. 3A, 405 of FIG. 4B) of thevessel 125, dome 115, and cap 105 can further contain a locking featurethat helps prevent accidental spills by ensuring that when the consumeris unscrewing one portion of the beverage container, that the portionintended to remain closed is not also be loosened. As is known to thoseof skill in the art, the locking feature can be a small raised portion,such as a small nub or bump, in the collar, that will require additionalpressure to be applied for release. The direction of the threading canbe determined by manufacturing standards. To facilitate the unscrewingof the cap 105 from the dome 115, the cap 105 can have a ridgedslip-proof cap grip 107. Similarly, to facilitate the unscrewing of thedome 115 from the vessel 125, the dome 115 can have a ridged slip-proofdome grip 117.

FIG. 1B is a profile view of the vessel 125. The vessel 125 is generallycylindrical in shape, and has a closed end 127 and an open end 129. Infact, the vessel is frustoconical in shape, but considered to begenerally cylindrical. Clockwise threads 135 are located along the topexterior wall of the vessel 125, enabling a tight spill-proof seal withthe dome 115 (as illustrated in FIG. 1). The vessel 125 is designed tobe partially filled with a pre-mixed beverage, enabling the consumer tolater add ice or other second ingredient to the vessel prior toconsumption. The vessel 125 can be made out of recyclable material, suchas aluminum, plastic, or glass, non-recyclable material, such asstainless steel, or any material, now known or later developed, suitablefor beverage distribution and retail sale. The vessel 125 can alsoinsulate the contents by using a double-wall construction, similar tothat of a thermos or travel mug, to maintain the temperature of thebeverage within the container.

FIG. 2A is a profile view of an alternate embodiment of the beveragecontainer 200, and can be made up of three parts, a cap 205, a dome 215and a vessel 225. The dimensions of the cap 205 are dependent upon thedimension of the lip wall 305 (shown in FIG. 3A) and may be determinedby such factors as the volume of the beverage container and/or thematerials used for its construction.

The beverage container is in the basic shape of a cocktail shaker.Vessel 225 is used to hold the pre-mixed beverage. The dome 215 isscrewed onto the vessel 225. The cap 205 is screwed onto the top of thedome 215. After removing the cap 205 a consumer can drink the beveragedirectly from the container 200 in a manner similar to traditionalbeverage containers such as standard soda bottles.

The consumer, after purchasing the beverage in the container 200, canremove the dome 215, unscrewing it from the vessel 225, to place icewithin the vessel 225 to cool the beverage contained within. Theconsumer can then reattach the dome 215, resealing it to the vessel 225,then shake to cool and strain the cooled beverage contents of the vessel225 through the dome 215 out of its top after removing the cap 205. Whenthe beverage container 200 is distributed it can contain atamper-indicating safety seal 212 between the dome 215 and the cap 205indicating whether post-production tampering has occurred, compromisingthe seal between the cap 205 and the dome 215. The beverage container200 can contain an additional tamper-indicating safety seal 222 betweenthe dome 215 and the vessel 225. Similarly, seal 222 would indicatewhether tampering has occurred post-production between the dome 215 andthe vessel 225 of the beverage container 200. The tamper-indicatingsafety seals 212 and 222 help to maintain the integrity of the mixedbeverage being distributed from the producer.

Those of skill in the art will recognize that alternative seals such asthose described above in reference to seals 112 and 122 of FIG. 1 can besimilarly applied with respect to seals 212 and 222 of FIG. 2.

In the example embodiment of the beverage container 200 in FIG. 2A, thedirection of the threading the cap 205 can screw onto the dome 215 witha clockwise rotation using clockwise threads. The dome 215 can screwonto the vessel 225 with counter-clockwise rotation usingcounter-clockwise screw threads. It should be clear to those skilled inthe art that the direction of the particular threading is not ofimportance, only that the two threadings may be in the oppositedirections relative to one another. The reverse thread feature and/orlocking feature helps prevent accidental spills by ensuring that whenthe consumer is unscrewing one portion of the beverage container, thatthe unintended portion is not also loosened. To facilitate theunscrewing of the cap 205 from the dome 215, the cap 205 can have aridged slip-proof cap grip 207. Similarly, to facilitate the unscrewingof the dome 215 from the vessel 225, the dome 215 can have a ridgedslip-proof dome grip 217.

FIG. 2B is a profile view of an alternative embodiment of the vessel225. The vessel 225 is generally cylindrical in shape, and has a closedend 227 and an open end 229. In fact, the vessel is frustoconical inshape, but considered to be generally cylindrical. Here,counter-clockwise threads 229 are located along the top exterior wall ofthe vessel 225, which enable the vessel to screw to the dome 215 using adirection of rotation that is the reverse of that used to screw the cap205 to the dome 215 (as illustrated in FIG. 2A). The vessel 225 isdesigned to be partially filled with a pre-mixed beverage, enabling theconsumer to later add ice or other second ingredient to the vessel priorto consumption. The vessel 225 can be made out of recyclable material,such as aluminum, plastic, or glass, non-recyclable material, such asstainless steel, or any material suitable for beverage distribution andretail sale now known or later developed. The vessel 225 can alsoinsulate the contents by using a double-wall construction, similar tothat of a thermos or travel mug, to maintain the temperature of thebeverage within the container.

FIG. 3A is a profile view of the dome 215. The bottom of the dome 215 isdesigned to fit over the open end 229 (shown in FIG. 2B) of the vessel225. The inside lip or wall of the bottom of the dome 215 hascounter-clockwise threads 320 that are complimentary to the vesselthreads 235 (shown in FIG. 2B) to enable the dome 215 and vessel 225 tobe sealed and resealed. At the top portion of the dome 215 is the lipwall 305. The exterior of the lip wall contains clockwise threads 310 toenable to the cap 205 be screwed onto the dome 215. The lip wall 305rises above the fixed strainer 325 (shown in FIG. 3B). The lip wall 305enables the consumer to drink directly from the beverage container 200without spilling. At the bottom of the dome 215 on the outside wall isthe ridged slip-proof dome grip 315, allowing for the user to get a moresecure grip to seal and unseal the dome 215 from the vessel 225.

FIG. 3B is a perspective view of the dome 215 looking up inside of itfrom below, illustrating another view of the ridged slip-proof dome grip315, and the inside threads 320 to enable the attachment of the vessel225 (shown in FIG. 2A) and the dome 215. Also visible in this view isthe fixed strainer 325, located in the upper portion of the dome 215close to the dome ceiling. The lip wall 305 extends up above the fixedstrainer 325.

FIG. 3C is another perspective view of the dome 215 looking downwardfrom above, illustrating the lip wall 305 rising above the fixedstrainer 325. The lip wall allows for the beverage to collect afterbeing strained, but prior to being directly consumed from the beveragecontainer 200. The lip wall 305 also allows the beverage to collect atit prior to being poured from the beverage contain 200 by the consumer.

FIG. 3D is a view of the dome 215 from directly above it. The fixedstrainer 325 sits below the lip wall 305 in the diametrical center ofthe dome 215. The lip wall 305 rises above the strainer 325.

FIG. 4A is a profile view of the cap 205. The cap 205 contains a ridgeslip-proof grip 207 (shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 4B) and clockwise threadsto fit over the dome lip wall 305 (shown in FIG. 3A). In a disclosedexample embodiment, the cap 205 can be frustoconical, tapering from awider opened end 409 that includes the clockwise threads 405 to fit overthe dome wall 305 towards the more narrow top (closed end) 407. Thebottom open end 409 of the cap 205 is designed to fit over the lip wall305. The inside wall of the cap 205 has clockwise threads 405 (shown inFIG. 4B) that are complimentary to the lip wall threads 310 (shown inFIG. 3A) to enable the cap 205 and dome 215 to be sealed and resealed.Along the outside wall of the cap 205 is a ridged slip-proof cap grip207, allowing the user to get a more secure grip to seal and unseal thecap 205 from the dome 215.

FIG. 4B is a perspective view of the cap 105 looking upward from below,illustrating the ridged slip-proof cap grip 207, and the inside threads405, which enable the attachment of the cap 205 and the dome 215.

FIG. 4C is a view of the cap 205 from directly above it. The closed end407 of the cap is visible. The ridged slip-proof cap grip 207 is alsovisible.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional profile view illustrating a double-walledconstruction embodiment of the beverage container 200. The beveragecontainer 200 is made up of three parts, a cap 205, a dome 215 and avessel 225. As illustrated, both the vessel 225 and the dome 215 can usedouble-walled construction. Each has an outer wall 505, an inner wall510, and a vacuum 507 between the two to limit the transfer of heat. Itshould be understood be those of skill in the art that although both thedome 215 and the vessel 225 are both shown as using double-walledconstruction only one, or neither, need to use double-walledconstruction.

While this invention has been particularly shown and described withreferences to example embodiments thereof, it will be understood bythose skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may bemade therein without departing from the scope of the inventionencompassed by the appended claims. For example, the invention could beused to market a beverage to be mixed with alcohol or pre-mixed withalcohol. In such alternative embodiments, in which it is intended thatalcohol and/or ice will be added to the soft-drink beverage sold in thecontainer, the practical volumetric capacity of the vessel can exceedthe soft-drink beverage sold within it by a range of 25 to 50 percent.Dimensions and proportions of the container will vary and will beinfluenced by the material choice, beverage volume requirements, andbottling machinery requirements at filling facilities; however, theutility of the various embodiments of the invention will be unaffected.

What is claimed is:
 1. A prepackaged hermetically sealed beveragecontainer prefilled with a ready for consumption beverage for retailsale, comprising: a vessel, having a sidewall, a closed end, an open endbounded by the sidewall, the open end having a threading complementaryto the threading of a dome, the vessel containing the ready forconsumption beverage; the dome, having a generally domed shape withopposed top and bottom openings having respective smaller and largerdiameters, the top opening being substantially smaller than the open endof the vessel, comprising: threading adjacent to the bottom opening tosecure the dome to the vessel, and the bottom opening further configuredwith a first seal arrangement between the vessel and the dome, sealedfor retail sale, sealing and maintaining integrity of the ready forconsumption beverage in the vessel until opened by a consumer; astrainer, fixed to an upper portion of the dome; and threading adjacentto the top opening of the dome complementary to the threading of a cap;and the cap, having a closed end, an open end, and threading adjacent tothe open end to secure the cap to the dome, and further configured witha second seal arrangement spaced above the first seal arrangementbetween the cap and the dome sealing the top opening of the dome, sealedfor retail sale, sealing and maintaining integrity of the beveragecontainer until opened, the dome being sealed at the bottom and topopenings by the first and second seal arrangements, the ready forconsumption beverage being a beverage that is hermetically sealed withinthe beverage container and having a retail sale shelf life.
 2. Thecontainer of claim 1, further comprising a mechanism configured toindicate tampering with the seal arrangements.
 3. The container of claim1 in which the first seal arrangement includes a first seal membersealing between the dome and the vessel, and the second seal arrangementincludes a second seal member sealing between the cap and the dome. 4.The container of claim 3, in which the first and second sealarrangements include shrink wrap film.
 5. The container of claim 1,wherein the beverage container further contains a non-carbonatedsoft-drink.
 6. The container of claim 1, wherein the ready forconsumption beverage includes alcohol.
 7. The container of claim 1 inwhich the first seal arrangement includes a seal applied across the openend of the vessel, the dome having an interior chamber that ishermetically sealed by the first and second seal arrangements, and frominterior regions of the vessel.
 8. A prepackaged hermetically sealedbeverage container prefilled with a ready for consumption beverage forretail sale, comprising: a vessel containing the ready for consumptionbeverage, having a sidewall, a closed end, and an open end bounded bythe sidewall; the dome, having a generally domed shape with opposed topand bottom openings having respective smaller and larger diameters, thetop opening being substantially smaller than the open end of the vessel,comprising: the bottom opening further configured with a first sealarrangement between the vessel and the dome, sealed for retail sale, forsealing and maintaining the integrity of the ready for consumptionbeverage in the vessel until opened by a consumer, the first sealarrangement including a seal applied across the open end of the vessel;a strainer, fixed to an upper portion of the dome; and a cap having aclosed end and an open end, and further configured with a second sealarrangement spaced above the first seal arrangement between the cap andthe dome sealing the top opening of the dome, sealed for retail sale,sealing and maintaining integrity of at least an upper portion of thebeverage container until opened, the dome having an interior chamberthat is hermetically sealed by the first and second seal arrangements,and from interior regions of the vessel, the ready for consumptionbeverage being a beverage that is hermetically sealed within thebeverage container and having a retail sale shelf life.
 9. The containerof claim 8, in which the first and second seal arrangements includeshrink wrap film.
 10. The container of claim 8, in which the seal acrossthe open end of the vessel is a metal closure.
 11. The container ofclaim 8, in which the seal across the open end of the vessel is a foilseal.
 12. The container of claim 8 in which the dome is securable to thevessel, and the cap is securable to the dome, by mating threads.
 13. Amethod of preparing, bottling, and packaging a ready for consumptionbeverage in a prepackaged hermetically sealed beverage container fordistribution, sale, and consumption, comprising: filling a volume ofbeverage into a vessel, the vessel having a sidewall, a closed end, anopen end bounded by the sidewall, the open end having threadingcomplementary to the threading of a dome; mounting the dome to thevessel, the dome having a generally domed shape with opposed top andbottom openings having respective smaller and larger diameters, the topopening being substantially smaller than the open end of the vessel,comprising: threading adjacent to the bottom opening, to securely screwthe dome to the vessel, the bottom opening further configured with afirst seal arrangement between the vessel and the dome, sealed forretail sale, sealing and maintaining the integrity of the beverage inthe vessel until opened by the consumer; a strainer, fixed to an upperportion of the dome; and threading adjacent to the top opening of thedome complementary to the threading of a cap; securing the cap to thedome and sealing for retail sale with a second seal arrangement spacedabove the first seal arrangement between the cap and the dome sealingthe top opening of the dome, sealing and maintaining integrity of thebeverage container until opened, the cap having a closed end, an openend, and threading adjacent to the open end, the dome being sealed atthe bottom and top openings by the first and second seal arrangements,the beverage being hermetically sealed within the beverage container andhaving a retail sale shelf life.
 14. The method of claim 13, furthercomprising a mechanism to indicate tampering with the seal arrangements.15. The method of claim 13 wherein the first seal arrangement includes afirst seal member sealing between the dome and the vessel, and thesecond seal arrangement includes a second seal member sealing betweenthe cap and the dome.
 16. The method of claim 15, in which the first andsecond seal arrangements include shrink wrap film.
 17. The method ofclaim 13, wherein the beverage is a non-carbonated soft-drink.
 18. Themethod of claim 13, wherein the ready for consumption beverage includesalcohol.
 19. The method of claim 13, wherein the first seal arrangementincludes a seal applied across the open end of the vessel, the domehaving an interior chamber that is hermetically sealed by the first andsecond seal arrangements, and from interior regions of the vessel.